Word of this newbie just came my way (and honestly, I suppose it was only a matter of time, given the popularity of veggie stix, right?!) I personally love fresh fruit because they are LOADED with fiber and good ol’ H2O, making for a filling snack. But…sometimes you just want some crunch with your “sweet” and you don’t want to reach for a Nestle Crunch bar. . .

While they aren’t a sub for fresh fruit, they are – at least – a better option than grabbing some candy. I am thrilled that companies are trying to be a little bit more health conscious these days, and offer more options for anyone wanting to proactively head off a craving. These are available in Walmart, Kroger, and Giant Eagle, among other retailers. You can also snag them on Amazon, which is always a great option when a product is new (and slowly making its way into stores!)

There’s something to be said for having breakfast in the morning. It doesn’t have to be sitting on your night table and devoured the moment your lids go up…but having a meal in the morning as you get going can set you up for a much better day.

My system is a little quirky – if I wake up early, before my usual (and more natural) time, I have to eat pronto. Not doing so lands me in a puffy and uncomfortable way – no one can explain it, it just is what it is. Same thing happens if I wait too long between meals or snacks! Frustrating but…I know it happens, so I’m able to be proactive and head it off! If I wake up at my usual time, a cup of coffee and a little time before eating works best. Everyone is different and there is nothing wrong with the way your morning routine is if it works for you!

I don’t vary a ton with my food in general – I could list my staples on one hand. So breakfast is either eggs and vegetables, or eggs and fruit. I don’t manage to get bored, remarkably (spices and sometimes even salsa or hot sauce can make a nice change!)

What I find, though, is that having a decent amount of protein, paired with high fiber and high water content foods sets me up to have more energy for the not just the morning, but the day. It kicks starts the metabolic burning process, and it often keeps me from devouring everything in sight later (that happens – for sure – when I don’t.)

Whatever mix of macronutrients works for you so that you feel your best, have the most energy, and feel satisfied, is what you should do! That might be toast with peanut butter and some fruit, or a big greek yogurt smoothie… Whatever it is, though, squeeze it in if you can. Breakfast is hugely important and will give you the support you need internally to start the day right.

There’s really no need to reach for candy – I know it’s delicious BUT…when you haven’t had it in a while, it truly becomes TOO sweet. It tastes unnatural and overboard, and never as good as it sounds. That said, cravings are notorious for overriding your best efforts and willpower from time to time… A great option? Nature’ sugar…!

Eating TONS of grapes or mounds of fresh fruit isn’t necessarily recommended…but generally you don’t need nearly that much to satisfy a sweet tooth. A small amount, a snack here or there…that WILL do it. Fresh fruit is also best (as opposed to dried, in which your sugar concentration is much higher) because it’s VOLUME – you get to eat a good amount of it. The water and fiber content will help to fill you up, and it will be more than a spoonful of the other stuff.